HILLSVILLE — Traffic had to slow down on Interstate 77 near the 12 mile marker Wednesday after 4 p.m. after a tractor-trailer overturned on an embankment there.Virginia State Police troopers responded to the scene of the a tractor pulling a double box trailer rig going off the south bound lanes to the right, up an incline and overturned.
Trooper K.D. Blackburn identified the driver of the 2003 Mack as James Halbert Smith Jr., 53, of Iron Station, N.C.The trooper said that the driver made the statement that he lost control of the tractor-trailer in the rain.

Galax community leaders, educators, non-profit and city department representatives rallied together on June 30 to gain insight from U.S. Attorney Timothy Heaphy, who prosecutes cases in the western district of Virginia for the U.S. District Court.
Citizens wanted to address some of the area’s leading issues and needs — drugs, immigration concerns, poverty, hunger and abuse.

INDEPENDENCE — Grayson County Sheriff Richard Vaughan recently released a summary report for the sheriff’s office for 2010-2011.
In addition to deputies responding to 3,934 calls for service, the sheriff’s office had a busy year with 6,753 warrants served (1,040 criminal and 5,713 civil).
The department recorded 160 felony charges in investigations alone.
Drug arrests remained on the rise with, 161 charges stemming from 71 offenders.
Larceny and burglary charges came to a combined total of 113.

HILLSVILLE — A Thursday fight at a Main Street apartment led to eight charges against a 20-year-old Hillsville man, according to authorities.
Authorities say the arrest of Terrence Wheeler Kade came after town officers received a call of a fight in progress.
Officer Alan Gravley arrived on the scene first and saw a subject coming out of the apartment building where the call for help originated from, according to a news release from Hillsville Police Department.